Author: Stephen P. Klein
Publisher: Rand Corporation
Published: 1988
Total Pages: 30
ISBN-13: 9780833008824
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis report presents the results of an analysis of data on 11,553 offenders who were convicted in California in 1980 of assault, robbery, burglary, theft, forgery, or drug crimes. Using a combination of defendant and crime characteristics and criminal justice processing variables, the authors were able to predict with about 80 percent accuracy whether an offender was given probation or sentenced to prison for these crimes. Adding race to the prediction equation for a given crime type did not improve accuracy, nor was race shown to be related to the predicted sentence. Thus, the failure of race to contribute to predictive accuracy did not stem from any correlation between race and the variables that did predict these outcomes. Race also was not related to the length of prison term imposed. These findings, in contrast to those obtained before the full implementation of California's Determinate Sentencing Act, suggest that this act may foster racial equity in sentencing.
Book Synopsis Racial Equity in Sentencing by : Stephen P. Klein
Download or read book Racial Equity in Sentencing written by Stephen P. Klein and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 1988 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report presents the results of an analysis of data on 11,553 offenders who were convicted in California in 1980 of assault, robbery, burglary, theft, forgery, or drug crimes. Using a combination of defendant and crime characteristics and criminal justice processing variables, the authors were able to predict with about 80 percent accuracy whether an offender was given probation or sentenced to prison for these crimes. Adding race to the prediction equation for a given crime type did not improve accuracy, nor was race shown to be related to the predicted sentence. Thus, the failure of race to contribute to predictive accuracy did not stem from any correlation between race and the variables that did predict these outcomes. Race also was not related to the length of prison term imposed. These findings, in contrast to those obtained before the full implementation of California's Determinate Sentencing Act, suggest that this act may foster racial equity in sentencing.